Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - Kathryn Lomax, director of the Office of Sponsored Programs at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, obtained $5,000 in funding for the Pioneer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (PURF) through the Platteville 1866 Fund. PURF is designed to support meaningful undergraduate scholarly activities under the direction of a faculty research advisor. In this context, research includes various types of scholarly activity, laboratory research, qualitative research and creative projects. Each PURF recipient can receive up to $1,000.

The Platteville 1866 Fund supports a wide range of student-driven projects and programs. These include, but are not limited to, scholarships, student research, tutoring and student assistance, cultural enrichment, historical activities, student driven entrepreneurial endeavors and new initiatives to support extra-curricular activities that benefit a significant number of UWP students.

Additional funding for PURF is provided through general program revenue funds and the Association of Retired Educators who have funded between five and eight recipients each year.

Former UWP provost, Lee Halgren, established PURF for students interested in research and perhaps continuing their education in a graduate program.

"The neat part of the PURF program is that it allows students to pursue an area of interest under the guidance of a faculty research advisor," commented Lomax.

All undergraduate majors are eligible to apply for PURF funds. Students must have a minimum of 45 credits completed at the end of the fall semester and must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or greater to qualify. Awards are made to individuals only, as group projects are not awarded. Students must be enrolled at UWP for the following academic year.

PURF applications are evaluated by the assistant deans of each college and may also include previous PURF recipient(s). Proposals should be directed toward a general audience and include clearly explained and/or defined field specific terms, processes, theories and concepts.

Each spring, provost Carol Sue Butts hosts a luncheon during which the recipients are required to present their findings in a PowerPoint presentation. The audience of invited guests includes recipients' parents, university administrators, faculty research advisors and the upcoming year's PURF recipients.

For more information on PURF, contact Lomax at (608) 342-1456 or lomax@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Kathryn Lomax, director, Office of Sponsored Programs, (608) 342-1456, lomax@uwplatt.edu

Prepared by: Lisa D. McLean, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, mcleanl@uwplatt.edu